Stoneham's hard work at Bognor pays off with golf award

He was honoured at the Sussex County Golf Union dinner at the East Sussex National GC.

In front of 200 or so guests and other nominees for the coveted award, he was presented with the trophy and a voucher for £150 towards the cost of a golf break presented by Your Golf Travel.

Stoneham took over the role of junior organiser more than three years ago. It is thanks to him that the junior section has re-ignited and numbers have grown year by year.

His organisation of competitions and matches have led to a renewed enthusiasm amongst the juniors. His level of dedication and driving force is behind their success.

The award is very well-deserved recognition for all the hard work and time he puts in, ensuring the section continues to thrive.

Stoneham now goes forward to February’s England Golf national awards.

The winners of the adult and junior foursomes knockout Kiwi Trophy competition, sponsored by Jean Slater, were Jake Stoneham and his uncle Peter Stoneham - runners-up last year but this time beating Nicki Vincent and Megan Tinson in the final.

Eighteen juniors played against 18 of their sponsors and helpers in the annual FBBB Bogey three-quarter handicap competition.

It was a hard-fought match but the sponsors were the eventual winners, for the seventh year in succession.

Junior captain Jason Cullen presented the trophy to club president Chris Martin.

Fourteen juniors entered the Dandy Winter Cup, an 18-hole Stableford competition sponsored by Andy Weir.

Sixteen-year-old Marcus Embleton, who plays off 19, was the winner with 42 points. Second was 14-year-old Max Littleboy with 41.

This was a great success for Marcus - having been a junior at the club for three years, this was his first win in a sponsored event and he was delighted.

The new Bognor ladies captain, Edwina Beresford, vice-captain Nicky Vincent and committee member Gill Harries attended the Sussex Ladies’ Golf Association annual meeting at East Grinstead.

The prestigious Jerdein Memorial Salver, won by Bognor pair Susan Doughty and Jane Russell earlier in the year, was presented to Gill Harries, who was also elected on to the ladies’ county committee.

Her role will be to organise the Morrice Fours and the Sussex county ladies vets’ B division.

COWDRAY PARK

The 19th Hole competition is a greensomes Stableford event for ladies and gents. It is very popular and attracted 46 pairs. The winners this year were the same as last year, a great performance from Shaun White and Phil Harrison.

Results: 1 Shaun White & Phil Harrison 41pts; 2 Russell Stagg & Dave Coombes 39 (on countback); 3 Tony Humberstone & Phil Cummins 39.

The December Medal attracted a field of 66.

Results: Div 1 - Steve Lucking nett 71; Chris Strudwick 72 (on countback); Paul Shepherd 72. Div 2 - Bill Birnie 71; Brian Dormer 72; Phil Jaeger 74 (countback). Div 3 - Wayne Challen 69 (overall winner); Steve West 70; Kevin Clue 71.

* The legend of a newcomer winning his first event in a Cowdray Park seniors’ competition continued with a debut victory for John Blockey, who has recently joined from West Surrey.

He partnered the consistent Derek Smith to victory in the Triple Six. He was following in the footsteps of other debut winners in Peter Laws, Phil Pett, Graham Thompson and, last month, Nick Austin.

The Triple Six is a pairs competition played under three different formats, six holes of greensomes, six holes of foursomes and six holes of betterball, with varying handicap allowances for each format.

Blockey and Smith recorded an excellent score of 40 points, which far exceeded any score other pairs could amass.

Two groups later Jan de Vries and Robin West returned 35 points, good enough only for third place, as the first pair out Alan Godfree and Dave Hirons had also scored 35 points but claimed second place on countback.

Five pairs shared fourth place: Mike King and Dave Tilley, Tony Castley and Keith Chapman, Dave Lucking and Brian Brockhurst, John Doran and Peter Burton and Phil Harrison and Pat Bonner, all with 34 points.

The event was superbly organised by Dave Hirons.

n Cowdray ladies played a Turkey Trot on a showery and cool day.

Results: 1 Marilyn Davis 43pts; 2 Sally Williams 40; 3 Janice Leath 39; 4 Ann Tyrrell 39; 5 Wendy Street 39; 6 Pauline Lamb 38; 7 Imke Sanderson 37; 8 Polly Davenport 36.

* Cowdray Park seniors held their annual fun event for the Elliott Cup, played with two clubs and a putter, with choice of clubs vital to good scoring.

Despite deep foreboding from the Met Office, the day stayed dry although was blighted by strong to gale-force winds.

The first group out featured two of the seniors’ single-handicap players, Dave Hirons and Dave Lucking, fresh from his win in the Eclectic competition.

Lucking quickly made his mark with a birdie two on the par-three third hole, and, by the end of nine holes he had scored a remarkable 20 points, which, even with a full set of clubs would have been an excellent score. With only three clubs and a single-figure handicap it was an outstanding feat.

While not able to match that score on the back nine, he still posted a score of 35 points, which withstood the efforts of all others and gave him another win.

Derek Smith posted a creditable 33 points and beat Philip Singer on countback for second place. In joint fourth place, with 32 points were John Doran and recent Stableford winner Sam Howes.

These players are all big hitters, a vital attribute in this format. Only three twos were recorded: Dave Lucking on the third and Derek Smith and Bruce Spooner on the 11th. Of the 55 entrants, only 13 returned 30 points or better.